Weft control mechanism for shuttleless looms

ABSTRACT

A weft control mechanism for shuttleless looms of the type adapted to insert weft yarn in the form of pairs of interconnected picks having means for inserting separate picks into the warp sheds which are drawn from separate sources of supply and which are guided to a position for presentation to the inserting means by a single weft presenting member.

[ Dec. 25, 1973 United States Patent [191 Sprague 3,092,150 6/1963 Brimans et 139/122 W 3,342,220 9/1967 Bartosek et a1. 139/122 W WEFT CONTROL MECHANISM FOR SHUTTLELESS LOOMS Primary Examiner-Henry S. Jaudon Attorney-John R. Bronaugh et a1.

Pittsburgh, Pa.

ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Aug. 25, 1972 Appl. No.: 284,499

A weft control mechanism for shuttleless looms of the type adapted to insert weft yarn in the form of pairs of [52] U.S. 139/122 W D03d 47/38 I t Cl interconnected picks having means for inserting separate picks into the warp sheds which are drawn from [58] Field of Search.................... 139/122 W, 127 R separate sources of supply and which are guided to a position for presentation to the inserting means by a References C'ted single weft presenting member. UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,604,124 Budzyna et a1. 139/127 R 4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures SELECTIVE Pmmmnms 197s 3.780.776

SELECTIVE CONTROL 7 35 Ta 7 WEFT CONTROL MECHANISM FOR SHUTTLELESS LOOMS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to shuttleless looms wherein weft yarn is inserted into separate sheds of warp threads in pairs of interconnected picks by means of reciprocating flexible yarn carrying elements.

Shuttleless looms for weaving in the manner described wherein the weft mechanism controls and presents a single end of weft for insertion are shown and described in US. Pat. No. 2,654,399.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the weaving of certain types of fabrics, it is often desirable to mix the weft yarns by drawing them from separate sources of supply or to form a patterning effeet by mixing weft yarns of a different color to form stripes or other effects. This is accomplished by selecting one color for a certain number of picks and subsequently selecting a second, then a third and so on.

Forms of selective weft mechanisms for shuttleless looms are shown and described in US. Pat. Nos. 3,467,148, 3,51 1,284 and 3,593,754 filed Apr. 24, 1967, July 30, 1968 and July 3, I969 respectively.

The weft control mechanism of the present invention requires a single weft presenting member or so-called weft positioner which during the performance of its intended function is adapted to present any one of a plurality of weft yarns drawn frorn independent sources of SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The weft control mechanism according to the invention functions in cooperation with a weft device having a plurality of yarn positioner fingers which are selectively and individually movable between active and inactive positions. Each yarn positioner finger controls a different weft yarn drawn from an independent source and they are so arranged that when selected they move their associated weft yarn to the so-called active position which is common to each of the other weft yarns when they are selectively moved to active position by their respective fingers.

When a particular weft positioner finger is selected to move to active position, the previously selected finger is simultaneously moved to its inactive position.

The weft positioner comprising the invention is pivotable by known means, between first and second positions which are effective in locating a selected weft yarn so as to form picks of interconnected pairs when it is presented to the means for its insertion into the shed.

The upper surface of the weft positioner is provided with an integrally formed hook member which is adapted to receive therein the weft yarn that is selectively moved to active position by its respective weft positioner finger. During the selected movement of one weft yarn to active position, the previously selected weft is withdrawn from the hook member as its respec tive finger is caused to move to its inactive position.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a weft control mechanism for shuttleless looms which by means of a single yarn positioner is capable of separately receiving and presenting any one of a plurality of BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of ashuttleless loom showing the weft positioner according to the invention applied thereto and located in one of thetwo positions it is caused to assume during the performance of its intended function;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the mechanism in FIG. 1 showing the other of the two positions which the filling positioner is caused to assume; and

FIG. 3 is a view in side elevation of a portion of the weft positioner showing the hook member for receiving a selected weft yarn and moving the same between the two positions necessary to insert lengths of weft in the form of pairs of interconnected picks.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing wherein only as much of a conventional shuttleless loom structure is depicted as is necessary to a complete understanding of the invention, there is shown in FIG. 1 the usual form of weft cutter bracket 10. This cutter bracket attaches in a known manner to and extends rearwardly from a weft control housing that is assembled to the forward and upper front surface of the loom not shown, but which illustrates a portion'of the housings cover at 11. The looms lay beam is shown at 12 and the reed carried thereby is identified by numeral 13. The weft inserting carrier (not shown) is fixed to the free end of a flexible tape 14 and is well known to those conversant with the art is caused to be projected into and withdrawn from the warp shed in timed sequence with the weaving cycle.

Portions of the looms framework are shown in FIG. 1 which includes the right hand loomside l5 and a socalled arch end 16.

In FIG. 1 a weft yarn selector unit generally identified by numeral 17 is mounted on a support bracket 18 that is attached by any suitable means to the arch end 16. Support bracket 18 positions the weft yarn selector unit 17 above and laterally spaced from vertical alignment with the weft cutter bracket 10.

The weft selector unit 17 includes a generally fanshaped housing 19 within which a plurality of spring biased yarn positioner fingers 21, 22, 23 and 24 are slidably carried. The upper end of each yarn positioner finger is interconnected with any suitable selective control unit 24 by a linkage element in the form of a Bowd'en Wire 25.

The yarn positioner fingers each include a weft guide eyelet 26 on the lower end thereof (one only shown in FIG. 1) through which the weft yarn associated therewith is adapted to pass. The weft yarns are identified by numerals 27, 28, 29, and 30'and being drawn from separate sources (not shown) they are operativley associated with yarn positioner fingers 21, 22, 23 and 24' respectively. I

The yarn positioner fingers are slidable between an inactive or yarn storage position to an active position or yarn feeding position such as shown by finger 23 in FlG. l. The fingers are held in their yarn storage positions by their Bowden Wire connections to the selective control unit 24 the latter of which functions in accordance with a predetermined weaving pattern. When a particular yarn positioner finger is required in accordance with the weaving pattern, the dictates of the selective control unit releases its hold on that finger and by means of a coil spring it is caused to slide downwardly to its yarn feeding position. These springs,

which are operatively associated with each yarn positioner finger 21, 22, 23 and 24', are identified by numerals 31, 32, 33 and 34 respectively. During the movement of a selected yarn positioner finger toward its yarn feeding position, the-control unit 24 is effective in moving the previously selected finger to its yarn storage position. I

The yarn positioner fingers are arranged in their housing 19 in such a manner that when selected, they move their weft guide eyelet to a position which is common to each of the other guide eyelets when they are in their yarn feeding positions.v

The means for positioning any one of the weft yarns 27, 28, 29 and 30 in the required positions for inserting the weft in separate sheds in the form of interconnected parts of picks will now be described.

The weft cutter bracket is provided with a pair of spaced and integrally formedlug elements 35 (one only shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) with each having an opening (not shown) aligned with the other for supporting a socalled cutter rod 36 for reciprocating movement. This reciprocating movement is produced in a well known maner by a rotating cam (not shown) carried within the aforementioned weft control housing and for a more detailed description of this unit attention is directed to 1.1.8. Pat. No. 3,467,148. A coil spring 37 assembles on the cutter rod 36 intermediate the lug elements 35 and is effective in keeping the forward end (not shown) of said rod in operative engagement with the means for effecting its reciprocating movement. The rearward end of the cutter rod 36 has a substantial L-shaped support block generaliy indicated by numeral 38 assembled thereon by means of a nut 39 and is caused to reciprocate with said rod. This support block 38 includes a foot portion 40 and an upwardly directed leg portion 41. The lower side (not shown) of the foot portion 40 forms a part of the conventional so-called second pick positioner and the leg portion 41 has a horizontally disposed and forwardly directed bar member 42, assembled thereto by means of a nut 43.

Lug element 35 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has an upwardly directed stud 44 fixed thereto and has pivotably assembled thereon a weft positioner lever which is in the form of a double armed lever generally indicated by numeral 45. This lever 45 has a first arm 46 which is held in contact with the forward end of bar member 42 by means of a spring 47. One end of spring 47 is attached to a pin 48'fixed on the bar member 43 and the opposite end is attached to a pin 49 fixed on the first tion 51 to which a finger element or so-called weft posi tioner 52 is assembled by means of a screw 53. Screw. 53 passes through a slot 54 (FIG. 3) provided in the weft positioner 52 and provides a means for longitudinal adjustment of the latter. The upper surface of the weft positioner has an angularly disposed recess formed therein which defines a hook 55 and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is adapted to receive a selected weft yarn and to move the same between the two positions shown in these figures.

As is known to those familiar with this type of shuttleless loom the end of the weft yarn during the first half of a pair of interconnected picks is temporarily held by a cutter and binder device (not shown) which is carried by the weft cutter bracket 10 and on the second half the weft extends from the fabric edge through the second pick positioner (not shown).

The location of the weft positioner 52 in FIG. 1 shows the weft 29 extending to the cutter and binder device and in FIG. 1 it is shown in its second pick position. As the weft positioner pivots between the first and second positions it positions the length of weft extending between said weft positioner 52 and the cutter bracket 10 in a location to be acted upon by a weft depressor 56 that is effective in a known manner of pulling the weft yarn downwardly to a position for pick up and insertion into the warp shed by the inserting carrier.

To summarize the operation, the cutter rod 36 is caused to reciprocate to and fro and the bar member 42 movable therewith is effective in pivoting lever 45 so as to continuously move the weft positioner 52 between the two positions illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The selection of any one of a plurality of wefts is timed so that its associated yarn finger will be lowered to yarn feeding position when the weft positioner 52 is in that position shown in FIG. 1. With the weft positioner in this position the selected weft yarn is lowered into the hook 55 of said weft positioner and the previously selected weft yarn is drawn upwardly out of said hook as its associated finger is moved to the weft storage position by the selective control unit. The selective control unit functions in accordance with the dictates of a predetermined pattern and any one yarn positioner finger with its associated weft can be selected for as few or as many picks of weft as may be desired.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that modification and variations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as those skilled in the art will readily understand. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the purview and scope of the invention and the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a shuttieless loom of the type wherein weft yarn is inserted individually into separate sheds of warp threads in pairs of interconnected picks by a suitable weft carrier, a weft control mechanism for selectively presenting one of at least two weft yarns each of which is drawn from an independent source of supply which comprises:

a. a weft finger for each source of weft supply an ranged for individual selective movement between inactive and an active position common to each of said fingers;

b. a single weft positioner means including a pivotal lever having a finger element with an integrally formed hook into which a selected weft finger is caused to position its associated weft yarn for mov' ing said weft between first and second positions for forming picks in interconnected pairs; and

c. a depressor means for engaging said weft in said first and second positions and presenting it to the weft carrier for insertion into the shed.

2. The weft control mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said weft fingers include integrally formed eyelets through which the weft associated therewith is tions by said pivotal lever. 

1. In a shuttleless loom of the type wherein weft yarn is inserted individually into separate sheds of warp threads in pairs of interconnected picks by a suitable weft carrier, a weft control mechanism for selectively presenting one of at least two weft yarns each of which is drawn from an independent source of supply which comprises: a. a weft finger for each source of weft supply arranged for individual selective movement between inactive and an active position common to each of said fingers; b. a single weft positioner means including a pivotal lever having a finger element with an integrally formed hook into which a selected weft finger is caused to position its associated weft yarn for moving said weft between first and second positions for forming picks in interconnected pairs; and c. a depressor means for engaging said weft in said first and second positions and presenting it to the weft carrier for insertion into the shed.
 2. The weft control mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said weft fingers include integrally formed eyelets through which the weft associated therewith is adapted to extend.
 3. The weft control mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said weft fingers are spring biased in the direction of their active positions.
 4. The weft control mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said depressor means comprises an arcuated lever having a weft engaging tip movable with said lever in a pathway to engage the associated weft of a selected weft finger when moved to said first and second positions by said pivotal lever. 